Oddly enough, "inciting to riot" is still an offense, and given some of the bingo halls I've been in, he's lucky to have escaped with his dignity and his skin intact. Bingo isn't played just by little old ladies.

As someone who went to a bingo hall and actually tried to have fun (before Mr. Poopypants behind us got all serious and called over the "manager").. I agree with the Weeners, It's for your own safety. Crazy biatches know no age limits and Granny unloading her handbag over your head is no fun...

Usually nothing, depending on the auctioneer and who is running it. You will not be welcome back though, guaranteed. I guess if it was a bad day you could see some legal trouble, but most auctioneers just want to move on and sell the item to a person with money.

TFA"He seemed to think he could say whatever he wanted because it was a public building. I tried to explain that that's not the case. Just because it's a public building doesn't give you the right to run into a theater and yell 'fire.' You can't go into a ballpark and yell 'out,' because people could stop the game."

uh - can't you though? is yelling "out" at a ballgame a crime? sure, it's grounds for them to toss your ass out, but i'm not sure how that's a crime.

same goes for this - equating it to yelling fire at a movie theater is either highly disingenuous or a HUGE reach. shouting fire at a move theater presents a clear and present danger to people in the movie theater, shouting BINGO does not.

this is asinine and a good indicator of that should have been when he "probably would have sent him on his way with a warning" had he apologized, inciting the "well as long a you're sorry" clause.

My CSB:I was in the Navy back in the late 80s and we were at sea off the coast of Cuba. Some joker that had the mid-watch (midnight to 0400) walked into the Pilot House and shouted out a rudder order. The helmsman repeated the order ("right 10 degrees rudder, aye Sir") and was about to do it when the Officer of the Deck screamed "Noooo!". The Officer of the Deck then sent someone to wake up the Captain. He was furious and immediately held Captain's Mast on the Bridge at 1215 am (AKA 0015). At first light they sent a helo out to take him to the Brig at Guantanamo. Obviously this was before it was being used to house terrorists.

This. It's amazing to listen to people interpret the first amendment in a vacuum with no regard for context or proper behavior in society. "Hurr durr I have free speech! I can go to a park where there are dozens of children playing and loudly converse about sex while cursing! It's my RIGHT!" This wasn't a first amendment issue. This is a disorderly conduct issue. He went in, yelled bingo with the intent to cause disruption and ruin people's enjoyment. If that's not clear to anyone they're simply being intentionally ignorant.

WinoRhino:BarkingUnicorn: You guys are what is wrong with free speech.

This. It's amazing to listen to people interpret the first amendment in a vacuum with no regard for context or proper behavior in society. "Hurr durr I have free speech! I can go to a park where there are dozens of children playing and loudly converse about sex while cursing! It's my RIGHT!" This wasn't a first amendment issue. This is a disorderly conduct issue. He went in, yelled bingo with the intent to cause disruption and ruin people's enjoyment. If that's not clear to anyone they're simply being intentionally ignorant.

are you equating using profanity and talking about sex in front of children with yelling bingo as a joke?i'm not sure what you yet, but YOU are what's wrong with something or other.

This guy was charged with a crime and went to court, potentially facing jail time? That means this took resources and therefore cost money to prosecute someone for basically being stupid.

not the same.besides, Miller v California establishes quite clearly that profanity is not protected under the free speech clause. Not sure Bingo falls under the umbrella of profanity.

BarkingUnicorn:Pathman: BarkingUnicorn: You guys are what is wrong with free speech.

how do you figure?

You defend its abuse. That perverts its purpose, which is not "to enable assholes to be assholes."

it's not government's responsibility or right to make you a better person. I don't believe you can make a reasonable case for criminal mischief, disturbance of the peace, disorderly conduct or any of the other anti-social behavior type crimes on him calling out Bingo one time. If he did it more than once then that's another story - but a one off stupid joke? yes, the purpose of the 1st amendment may not have been "to enable assholes to be assholes" but that is definitely a necessary component in serving what it was intended to do: stop government from making laws that infringe upon the freedom of speech.

blast yer scuppers:My CSB:I was in the Navy back in the late 80s and we were at sea off the coast of Cuba. Some joker that had the mid-watch (midnight to 0400) walked into the Pilot House and shouted out a rudder order. The helmsman repeated the order ("right 10 degrees rudder, aye Sir") and was about to do it when the Officer of the Deck screamed "Noooo!". The Officer of the Deck then sent someone to wake up the Captain. He was furious and immediately held Captain's Mast on the Bridge at 1215 am (AKA 0015). At first light they sent a helo out to take him to the Brig at Guantanamo. Obviously this was before it was being used to house terrorists.

/End CSB

I only hope the Captian said "You think it's funny now?" as they boarded him on the bird.

Though would 10 degrees right on the rudder followed by a immediate correction be that bad of a thing? I could understand if he ordered full reverse and threw a screw off, or got someone to fire off a deck gun...but the small course correction order was intercepted and no harm was done.